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I'm also thinking that the link between chronic sleep deprivation and
adult onset diabetes is a powerful incentive to not work
all-nighters. There's a certain sense of virtue and glory in working
all night when you're young, but the thrill of it all usually wears
off by the time you're in your early thirties and you just end up
feeling tired.
Yours truly,
John Hedtke
Author/Consultant/Contract Writer
www.hedtke.com <-- website
Region 7 Director, STC
541-685-5000 (office landline)
541-554-2189 (cell)
john -at- hedtke -dot- com (primary email)
johnhedtke -at- aol -dot- com (secondary email)
At 07:02 AM 3/10/2008, John Rosberg wrote:
>Kevin -- I'm thinkin' you got it right -- I've had a similar
>conversation with my boss (who has been supportive of the concept) with
>regard to developing a department of writers/translators/editors . . . .
>.
>
>The team I work with is fairly experienced, most have pulled multiple
>all-nighters at startups, attempting to shore up the "killer app" that
>would make everyone millionaires.
>
>Once in a while, my boss comments on the lack of "fire" demonstrated by
>the folks on the team.
>
>I went on to point out the fact that we've never held up a release, that
>we support increasing numbers of products/features with a group of
>constant size, that the work is done well, on time, and with a minimal
>amount of support from R&D.
>
>I said I was much more interested in helping to develop a sustainable
>group that would meet the stated requirements over the long term, rather
>than being part of a team that is known for all-nighters and high
>turnover.
>
>We have this conversation about once every third quarter -- so far, he's
>always agreed.
>
>Phew
>
>rosberg
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: McLauchlan, Kevin [mailto:Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com]
>Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 9:44 AM
>To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>Subject: Friday philosophical - the age thing
>
>A remark by Andrew in another thread, about late nights, early mornings
>and not being at one's best reminded me of previous threads where some
>young turks have noted that they're tough enough (as are the fresh young
>engineers) that they aren't fazed by long or irregular hours - they
>usually mention the all-nighters they pulled at college, not so long
>ago.
>
>
>
>When I put this together with the ongoing trend to raise the
>education/credential bar for many jobs - including tech-writing - I
>come up with this thought:
>
>
>
>The useful-life window for young-turk-dom might be narrowing.
>
>The young turks either are still invulnerable (because they _are_ that
>young - and therefore inexperienced), or are putting up a brave front
>because they've passed 30 and are realizing that the bod just doesn't
>bounce back like it used to, and "oh, that's what they mean by
>brain-fog", better fake it with extra helpings of Red Bull, and some
>Grecian Formula in the beard.
>
>
>
>This is as it always has been. The young-and-invulnerable part of your
>career (any career) is shorter than the long haul of your overall
>working life. BUT, as the young folk have to spend longer and longer in
>school before starting that first real job (or come out with the degree
>in imaginary dead languages and have to return for a second degree or
>certificate in tech-writing to put brioche and latte on the table), they
>are entering later. That is, they are entering the real workforce (as
>opposed to the "junior" one that sustained them through school) with
>more and more of their years of invulnerability already used up.
>
>
>
>Just a thought to put a chill on some weekends.
>
>
>
>Kevin
>
>
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